Angry driver let off after attacking cyclist

Yves Geza said:
London in particular seems to have two special breeds of cyclists. Those who have just got out of their BMW X5 jeeps and who are thus still invincible and bully all other traffic and those who bounce onto the pavement scattering pedestrians and then back off the pavement scattering cars when it suits them.

But if you want a specific instance of cyclists slowing traffic, visit Highgate West Hill in the evening rush hour. The lycra warriors exercise their legal right to grind up the hill at 4 or 5 mph. Meanwhile the queue of cars behind does the shunting train stop-start and burns five times more fuel than it would otherwise have to.

Indeed, the queue of traffic goes a mile back down the road to Kentish Town and creates a traffic jam where none needed to exist.

In environmental terms, there would be less fuel used and less pollution caused if some kind environmentalist put the cyclists into hired limousines and gave them all lifts up the hill!
Click to expand...

Where can we find these limousines? I could do with one to take me home this afternoon after knackering my knee! ;)
 
I say ban cyclists from wearing helmets. It makes them suddenly feel invincible and take unnecessary chances and acting like nobs.
 
menthel said:
Where can we find these limousines? I could do with one to take me home this afternoon after knackering my knee! ;)
Click to expand...

You can find them in Kentish Town but they only go North away from Raynes Park :D
 
Seconding Jonathan's comments about London. It's not possible to make a journey anywhere in this city without seeing cyclists jumping red lights, switching between pavements and roads, etc..

The other day I was on Kensington High Street and both myself and a bus had to slam our brakes on because a guy on a bike shot off the pavement perpendicular into the road and missed us by about 6 feet. He flipped the bus drive off when he beeped him.

I didn't even react, because that's just completely normal in London.
 
People still raising the "road tax" point? We all pay for the roads and "road tax" doesn't pay for the upkeep of the roads. Most of us on bikes also pay "road tax" on the cars we own too.

I do heartily agree with the police cracking down on RLJing idiots though, especially as most that I see have heaphones in and cycle like planks anyway. I would tell them of the error of their ways but they can't hear me over the music. Then again they probably won't hear the bus either. Or see it as they don't understand the concept of the should check.
 
MWHCVT said:
I wouldn't dare to suggest I knew what type of cyclist you are, I'm sure your perfect in every way, I can admit I'm a flawed driver, I'm not a patient person and if someone cause me delay it winds me up...poor drivers also wind me up just as much as poor cyclists, I also maintain a stance that cyclists should be required to maintain an insurance policy and display a identification plate on the bike that they're riding..so that in the instance of the first example I can reclaim my £200+ that it cost me to have a new colour coded electric wing mirror on my car
Click to expand...

Apologies. Some of the views expressed in this thread have really pushed my buttons. I tried presenting a reasonable argument in favour of cycling a few posts back and it got ignored, only for the same points I'd addressed to come up again.

I shouldn't have directed my frustrations at you :)
 
Aumz said:
The sooner flying cars or bikes are invented the better...then we can have bikes on the roads and the cars flying...maybe switch that around I would prefer a bike fall on rather than a car.
Click to expand...


Don't be ruddy silly! The bikes would just exercise their rights to cycle along the flight paths with airliners trying to fly behind them at 5mph! :p That will really improve safety! :eek: :lol:
 
London Headshots said:
Seconding Jonathan's comments about London. It's not possible to make a journey anywhere in this city without seeing cyclists jumping red lights, switching between pavements and roads, etc..

The other day I was on Kensington High Street and both myself and a bus had to slam our brakes on because a guy on a bike shot off the pavement perpendicular into the road and missed us by about 6 feet. He flipped the bus drive off when he beeped him.

I didn't even react, because that's just completely normal in London.
Click to expand...

It's not possible to make a journey anywhere in this city without seeing cars jumping speeding, switching between lanes without indicating etc..

The other day I was on Kensington High Street and both myself and another cyclist had to slam our brakes on because a guy in a car turned off in front of us missed us by about 2 feet. He flipped the both of us off when the other cyclist beeped him.

I didn't even react, because that's just completely normal in London.

See what I did....:)

I drive in London
I commute by bike to work in London
I have in past had a motorbike in London.
I walk in London

Doing any of those activities I can point to things pedestrians \ car \ van \ bus \ taxi \ motorbike \ cyclists have done to endanger me in any of those forms of transport.

I'm not sure how this thread got to this point. Generally % wise most people are courteous, and a very small minority are inconsiderate or not well enough versed in how to use their mode of transport to best protect themselves or others. The latter is certainly something where we should always focus our improvements.

And back to the original point yes of course you would hope the driver would be prosecuted for that attack, whether they were attacking a cyclist or not. any assault like that should lead to prosecution in my opinion, but that is a whole other thread!

Group hug? :D
 
Last edited:
Yves Geza said:
Don't be ruddy silly! The bikes would just exercise their rights to cycle along the flight paths with airliners trying to fly behind them at 5mph! :p That will really improve safety! :eek: :lol:
Click to expand...

I think if we could manage to draft being the planes it would be excellent and all would be happy!
 
akr said:
I think if we could manage to draft being the planes it would be excellent and all would be happy!
Click to expand...

Have you seen the top gear where a Citroen 2cv (I think) gets driven behind an aeroplane on a runway? Not sure I'd want to try and draft that!
 
TriggerHappy said:
Have you seen the top gear where a Citroen 2cv (I think) gets driven behind an aeroplane on a runway? Not sure I'd want to try and draft that!
Click to expand...

Not seen that, but will try to.

Maybe we could draft the 2cv that is drafting the plane?
 
That really is a shocking video - I can't understand why the van started pulling in while it was not even past the cyclist and then got "funny" as he got tooted by the cyclist.

If I was on a motorway and cut in so close after overtaking another vehicle like that I would be surprised if I did NOT get honked or flashed at!
 
I couldn't quite figure out who had done what to cause the van driver to react in the way he did. If he'd had a pop at me like he did with that cyclist I'd have probably wrapped my bike around his head.

Back in the early 90's I was knocked off my bike when a car pulled out of a side road without looking. I wasn't going particularly fast but I hit his wing, went over the top and suffered a few cuts and bruises.

I'd have put it down to driver error however the man got out and gave me hell for denting the wing on his Audi. I couldn't believe he didn't realise it was his fault but when he pushed me I saw red, picked my bike up by the handlebars and swung it hard down onto his bonnet.

I recovered my bike, bid him good day, and went on my way leaving him opened mouthed.
 
Keith W said:
Now this guy has been "let off" in my opinion
Click to expand...

:shake:

dinners said:
I couldn't quite figure out who had done what to cause the van driver to react in the way he did. If he'd had a pop at me like he did with that cyclist I'd have probably wrapped my bike around his head.

Back in the early 90's I was knocked off my bike when a car pulled out of a side road without looking. I wasn't going particularly fast but I hit his wing, went over the top and suffered a few cuts and bruises.

I'd have put it down to driver error however the man got out and gave me hell for denting the wing on his Audi. I couldn't believe he didn't realise it was his fault but when he pushed me I saw red, picked my bike up by the handlebars and swung it hard down onto his bonnet.

I recovered my bike, bid him good day, and went on my way leaving him opened mouthed.
Click to expand...

:lol:
 
jacob12_1993 said:
All the differing opinions on the page are pretty funny. I spent most of my high school years on a bike 6 days a week as I used to race regionally and very occasionally nationally too. Even riding on my own against the kerb I would have people driving aggressively towards me.

There are only so many times that you can take a wing mirror to the arm or you can narrowly miss somebody opening their door on you before you have a serious accident. Since giving it up I know of at least two young lads that were my age that have died on the roads, would you want that to be your 18 year old son?

I think sometimes unless you have actually ridden on the roads you won't understand just how dangerous it is out there. In this case the driver was being an absolute ****, cutting him up within a foot or two could have easily caused a serious accident. Trying to open the door on him which could have killed him and then when his first two attempts failed he decided he would go and physically assault him. Anyone condoning that needs their head checking...
Click to expand...

Absolutely agree and the van driver is an agressive moron, attacking someone like that should have been punished properly
I dont ride a pushbike but still agree with you
there are dangerous cyclists out there but no more than any other group of road users
 
dinners said:
I couldn't believe he didn't realise it was his fault but when he pushed me I saw red, picked my bike up by the handlebars and swung it hard down onto his bonnet.

I recovered my bike, bid him good day, and went on my way leaving him opened mouthed.
Click to expand...

That was a very intelligent thing to do....NOT:cuckoo: had he run over your bike,I have no doubt you would have been straight on to the old bill and demanding repair/replacement, its exactly this attitude that cyclists are seen by many other road users as absolute morons. Be rest assured had you done that to my car,you would need to get your bike surgically removed from where the sun does'nt shine mate.
 
mex said:
That was a very intelligent thing to do....NOT:cuckoo: had he run over your bike,I have no doubt you would have been straight on to the old bill and demanding repair/replacement, its exactly this attitude that cyclists are seen by many other road users as absolute morons. Be rest assured had you done that to my car,you would need to get your bike surgically removed from where the sun does'nt shine mate.
Click to expand...

A few assumptions there, not to mention a degree of irony.

No it wasn't intelligent. Like I said I reacted to his idiotic driving and subsequent agression - much the same way that you've described how you'd react.
 
Last edited:
dinners said:
A few assumptions there mate.

No it wasn't intelligent. Like I said I reacted to his idiotic driving and subsequent agression - much in the same way you've responded in fact.
Click to expand...

Tbh I would have done the same thing as you did. :lol:
 
pepi1967 said:
Tbh I would have done the same thing as you did. :lol:
Click to expand...

I wouldn't, the driver would have found himself wearing the bike. :thumbs:

I knew a bloke who, when on his bike, had an altercation with a people carrier. Stupid woman just cut him up and stopped right in front of him. He ended up going through the back window.
 
I drive a car, my husband rides a bike (and doesn't drive). So i can see both sides. Many times i've been irritated by cyclists riding selfishly or even dangerously. The one that sticks in my head is when i dropped my daughter off at her ballet class which was down a road that was closed for work, access only to the villiage hall (where i was going). Coming back out a cyclist pulled out of the road to my right, not even bothering to look (obviously assuming the road was closed so there would be no traffic). I had to slam on my brakes to keep from hitting him, and he had the cheek to scream abuse at me!

Having said that, i've had similar incidents from fellow car drivers. Infact, i often joke that the manufacturers must have sprayed my car with invisibility paint by mistake :lol:.

I think there are idiots using every form of transport, but there is no excuse for violence. And where violence is used, as in this case, it should be punished. Irrespective of if the cyclist was being a knob or not (i haven't watched the video so can't comment) he didn't deserve to have 10 shades of **** knocked out of him. If i beat the crap out of everyone i perceived to deserve it i'd have very sore knuckles :lol:.
 
I actually dont see any evidence of an assault being committed

I can only assume there were some indepandant witnesses because the Video proves nothing and certainally doesnt show a so called barrage of punches being thrown
 
Last edited:
nilagin said:
I say ban cyclists from wearing helmets. It makes them suddenly feel invincible and take unnecessary chances and acting like nobs.
Click to expand...

The helmet is the difference when some (note I say some and not all) moronic drivers don't see cyclists and either knock them off or pull out in front of them.

I have had a car driver actually knock my hand off my handle bar as he was that close. Think it would have been bad if I had been going slow but helped I was doing about 25mph, he was also on the phone at the time, this was on the embankment in London and I was in the cycle lane. Also had a 4x4 driver threaten to get out his car and hit me, all because he couldn't overtake me even though the road was clear ahead and by law he was allowed to cross the line.
Had a bus driver cut me up (like in video), he had 2 lanes to go into so no excuse and when I got level with him, he just laughed at me, wasn't laughing though when he got reported to TFL for his actions.
What annoys me as a cyclist is the cyclists that jump red lights and think they are a law to themselves, as it will always be the law abiding cyclist who gets on the wrong end of an annoyed driver.
I also drive so see both sides.
 
I have been watching this thread for a while both laughing and scorning at some of the comments.

I have cycled nearly 2000 miles so far this year both solo and in club group rides. For the most part it's been trouble free.

I'm an advanced level ride leader within my club and the key word that I remind riders of is 'communication'.

If riding on a narrow road with a car behind a rider in the middle of the group provides hand signals indicating when it's safe to pass. Riders provide verbal signals when cars are at the rear in order to split a larger group, providing gaps for cars to leap frog through. When possible we will clear junctions quickly, but sometimes it's tough. The last thing I want to do is hop out on to a busy road when I'm not 100% sure it's clear, I can't just press harder on the right pedal and zoom off like a car. For a couple of seconds I'm a sitting duck.

In all warps of life there are idiots that are just out for themselves.
Walking through a shopping centre I always seem to find myself stuck behind the couple just ambling along. I know where I want to go and I want to get there, it does not give me the right to shove them out the way or give them a verbal when I pass.
How many times have you had to wait behind someone browsing in the supermarket shelf? Wait in the post office queue while the pensioner has something explained to them?

Everyone has a right to go about their business, so what if 'their business' is not quite in line with 'your business'.

We have to share this planet with all the good people, weird people, idiots, spongers and general spanners.

Until we can afford to buy our own planet I suggest we all take a step back and learn to get along.
 
I'm probably going to get shot down in flames, but there are many many occasions when cyclists really do overstep the mark...

I live in the new forest, and most roads are just a smidge over single track width, especially around the Rhinefield/Brockenhurst area..

There have been many many times recently when road cyclists (cycling in a herd) have obstructed the normal flow of traffic... holding up other holiday makers in their caravans, and giving one or two fingered gestures to drivers who are trying to get to work or just with their normal lives without having to deal with ill-mannered and obstructive road cyclists. And, I'm not talking about the normal holiday-makers who cycle in the forest, I'm talking about the groups of cyclists (such as the recent wiggle even which was cancelled on the 2nd day)

If I (as a car driver) didn't give a cyclist the 6ft gap when overtaking them, and an accident happened - I'd get hung drawn and quartered!!! However, the cyclist can weave in and out of traffic and overtake by a couple of inches without a problem. How does that work?!? shouldn't it be the same rule for both?!?!!!

It's such a shame that they can get on the roads without insurance or even feeling they have to comply with the highway code and treat fellow road users respectfully.

I've almost been run off the road by ignorant cyclists who weave in & out of the traffic, cutting across queues here and there without a thought for the car driver, who can't use the flippin' roads without tax and insurance!

shame on you cyclists, you need to learn some respect for other road users!
 
Last edited:
HopefulM said:
I've almost been run off the road by ignorant cyclists who weave in & out of the traffic, cutting across queues here and there without a thought for the car driver, who can't use the flippin' roads without tax and insurance!

shame on you cyclists, you need to learn some respect for other road users!
Click to expand...

You started so well, raising legitimate concerns about they way some cyclists behave on the roads, but then you went and spoiled it by:

A) Suggesting we don't pay tax - which tax is it the cyclists aren't paying, and what does that tax pay for exactly?

B) Taking the bad example set by some cyclists, to then generalise that to all cyclists. We could just as easily play that game back at drivers. After all there's lots who commit all sorts of traffic offences (at speeds and in vehicles capable of doing far greater harm), but we realise they also represent a minority.

Solutions have to be cooperative. It's no good just blanket hating one category of road users.
 
akr said:
It's not possible to make a journey anywhere in this city without seeing cars jumping speeding, switching between lanes without indicating etc..

The other day I was on Kensington High Street and both myself and another cyclist had to slam our brakes on because a guy in a car turned off in front of us missed us by about 2 feet. He flipped the both of us off when the other cyclist beeped him.

I didn't even react, because that's just completely normal in London.

See what I did....:)
Click to expand...

Yeah, you posted something that didn't happen to you. Brilliant. Totally proved your point.
 
Can see how the van driver was pi55ed off it the first 30sec of the video, the tit on the bike cut him up going around the car that was parking, then waved and blew his horn when the van overtook, and how you guys can tell the van was within a foot is beyond me(suppose it adds to the drama), but,the driver shouldn't have slapped him,by all means curse and swear (that's what I'd have done)but that way.
 
mxfun said:
Can see how the van driver was pi55ed off it the first 30sec of the video, the tit on the bike cut him up going around the car that was parking, then waved and blew his horn when the van overtook, and how you guys can tell the van was within a foot is beyond me(suppose it adds to the drama), but,the driver shouldn't have slapped him,by all means curse and swear (that's what I'd have done)but that way.
Click to expand...

Yes the van driver may have had a reason to be peed off but as you said he should not have hit him there is never a excuse to assault someone and he should have been prosecuted for doing it
 
Last edited:
some of the replies in this thread have been ludicrous.

tarring all cyclists with the same brush saying they are all irresponsible etc. It's crazy. Some cyclists will be dangerous, some car drivers will be dangerous, others not. It's not like cyclists are a different race of people to car drivers. The fact is some humans are idiots on the road - whether they are driving a car or riding a bike is irrelevant - they'll still be an idiot.

And as for the vehicle tax thing - I drive a car and I don't pay any vehicle tax either - it's based on emissions and as far as I am aware a bicyle doesn't emit any - why should they pay tax when I don't in my car?
 
Last edited:
HopefulM said:
I'm probably going to get shot down in flames, but there are many many occasions when cyclists really do overstep the mark...

I live in the new forest, and most roads are just a smidge over single track width, especially around the Rhinefield/Brockenhurst area..

There have been many many times recently when road cyclists (cycling in a herd) have obstructed the normal flow of traffic... holding up other holiday makers in their caravans, and giving one or two fingered gestures to drivers who are trying to get to work or just with their normal lives without having to deal with ill-mannered and obstructive road cyclists. And, I'm not talking about the normal holiday-makers who cycle in the forest, I'm talking about the groups of cyclists (such as the recent wiggle even which was cancelled on the 2nd day)

If I (as a car driver) didn't give a cyclist the 6ft gap when overtaking them, and an accident happened - I'd get hung drawn and quartered!!! However, the cyclist can weave in and out of traffic and overtake by a couple of inches without a problem. How does that work?!? shouldn't it be the same rule for both?!?!!!

It's such a shame that they can get on the roads without insurance or even feeling they have to comply with the highway code and treat fellow road users respectfully.

I've almost been run off the road by ignorant cyclists who weave in & out of the traffic, cutting across queues here and there without a thought for the car driver, who can't use the flippin' roads without tax and insurance!

shame on you cyclists, you need to learn some respect for other road users!
Click to expand...

so coming from the NF (as do I originally) what do you hate more? cyclists, caravaners or ponies/cows/donkeys stood in the road :D it wasn't you who put those tacks in the road at boldre was it? :suspect:

:p

I must admit at peak holiday times brock can get overloaded, going back 15 years or so the hire place I worked at easily used to hire out 200+ a day (normally within a few hours) and it was one of many hire places. but that was all mountain bikes so shouldn't have clogged up any roads.. if only the roadies would opt for something with bigger tyres and get onto the gravel tracks too.. :D
 
Last edited:
TriggerHappy said:
Here's an interesting article for why non-cyclists could benefit from signing the epetition in support of greater investment in cycling infrastructure: http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/public/cyclesafety/article3755751.ece
Click to expand...



Clarkson said:
It is also important to note that cyclists are entitled to use the road because they pay council tax and income tax. The maintenance of the roads is not funded out of the “road tax” paid by motorists, which is actually called Vehicle Excise Duty and is linked to a vehicle’s emissions.
Click to expand...

wait, what..?

:D

actually a very good read and highlights a lot of reasons for everyone, not just cyclists to sign the petition.
 
As a country-dweller, I must add my voice to those who find cyclists on the whole to be a total pain. I've used the roads on a push bike, motor bike and car for several decades, and will always "allow them their wobbling space" and accord them all the consideration due to other, more vulnerable road users.
There's lots of horses that use the local lanes - their riders are unfailingly considerate and polite, and fully aware of other road users - then we get the "weekend Bradley Wiggins'" en masse - lycra clad arses in the air, heads down, often riding several abreast, off on the planet smug, secure in the knowledge that their blobby helmets confer immortality and the moral high ground..... Not a mirror amongst them, having a glance behind is "cissy" - give them a polite toot to let them know you're coming (as we were taught), and they'll dramatically swerve all over the road (proving they weren't paying attention), and indulge in theatrical fist waving, and attempts to further obstruct the road...
There are times I've been tempted to invest in an old Merc (for the front sight).......:D
 
Organnyx said:
give them a polite toot to let them know you're coming (as we were taught), and they'll dramatically swerve all over the road (proving they weren't paying attention), and indulge in theatrical fist waving, and attempts to further obstruct the road...
Click to expand...

This could be your issue, why the hell are you beeping them? Would you come up behind a car and beep it? No, because that would suggest you had a problem with it. Coming up behind a group of cyclists and beeping is going to say 'get out of the way' rather than 'I'm here' hence the reaction
 
jacob12_1993 said:
This could be your issue, why the hell are you beeping them? Would you come up behind a car and beep it? No, because that would suggest you had a problem with it. Coming up behind a group of cyclists and beeping is going to say 'get out of the way' rather than 'I'm here' hence the reaction
Click to expand...

dunno, I think it depends on the beep. Theres a light hearted beep you'd use to say hello to someone you knew on the street and then theres the long beep that says "get out of my way"
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top